System for charging an electric vehicle (EV)

ABSTRACT

A method of charging an electric vehicle (EV) includes receiving a user&#39;s authentication code in an electric vehicle service equipment (EVSE) from a user&#39;s mobile device, comparing in the EVSE the user&#39;s authentication code to a whitelist having a plurality of authorized user authentication codes, and enabling an electric vehicle (EV) charging transaction serviced by the EVSE in response to the comparing of the user&#39;s authentication code to the whitelist so that a user&#39;s authentication code is authenticated to enable the EV charging transaction without concurrent access to an EVSE-related remote server.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/956,330, filed Dec. 1, 2015, which claims priority to and the benefitof U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/086,667, filed Dec. 2,2014, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference hereinfor all purposes.

BACKGROUND Field of the Invention

The field of the invention relates to portable and fixed electricvehicle supply equipment (EVSE).

Description of the Related Art

A charging station or Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) is usedto provide high levels of power to electric vehicles (EVs) safely byonly energizing the EVSE's power cable and supplying power to the EVwhen the EVSE detects that it is connected to an EV. In addition to thewires for carrying the electricity from the EVSE to the EV, the EVSE'spower cable has a pilot line, which when the EVSE is plugged into an EV,connects the EVSE's and the EV's control systems and allowscommunication. The EVSE will only supply power when the EV is connectedto the EVSE, and the EVSE will automatically shut off the power to theEV when the EVSE is disconnected from the EV.

When installed in a public location, turning the EVSE's power on mayrequire an external authorization from a home office. This externalauthorization allows the EVSE's owner/operator to control who may usethe EVSE, how long it may be used, as well as to obtain payment for itsuse. One example of such an EVSE system is shown in FIG. 1 (prior art),where an EVSE system 100 includes a connector 105, such as a J1772compliant connector for connecting to an EV 145, a power cable 110 forcommunicating power and communications to the EV 145, a power switch orrelay 115 to switch AC power between a utility power supply 120 and theconnector 105, an EVSE control system 125 for selectively switchingon/off the power switch 115, a system box 130 encompassing the powerswitch 115 and EVSE control system 125, a control interface 135 toaccept input from a user, a pilot line 140 for communication between aconnected EV 145 and the EVSE control system 125, a user activation card150, a wireless communication system 155 for the EVSE control system 125to communicate back to an EVSE home office 160 through a wirelessconnection 165 that includes a cell tower 167, and a wired communicationsystem 170 for the EVSE control system 125 to communicate back to anEVSE home office 160 without a wireless connection 165. Upon connectionto the EV 145, the EVSE system 100 may be activated by either using thecontrol interface 135, such as a keypad or a touch screen and/or via theactivation card 150, such as an RFID card. The interface 135 isconnected to the control system 125 which can activate the power switch115 to switch power to the EV 145. When authorization is required, theEVSE control system 125 will use the wired communication 170 to contacta home office 160 via a two-way communication system such as a telephoneconnection or via an internet connection. Alternatively, the controlsystem 125 can use the wireless system 155 to contact the home office160, where the wireless system 155 is a cell phone system.

Another activation method is for the user to use his/her cell phone 175to either call the home office 160 or, in the case of a smart phone, towirelessly connect to the home office 160 via the internet (typicallyusing a phone number or website set forth on the system box 130). Uponauthorization (and typically payment), the home office 160 will thensignal the EVSE control system 125, via either the wired 170 or wireless165 connections, to activate the charging of the EV.

As can be seen, regardless of the means (cell phone or controlinterface) that the user uses to interface with the EVSE system 100, toobtain authorization to charge the EV requires that either the wired 170or wireless 155 connections be in place and functioning. Such wired orwireless connection can be expensive and time consuming to install andoperate and their operations may be limited by bandwidth restrictions.

SUMMARY

A method of charging an electric vehicle (EV) includes receiving auser's authentication code in an electric vehicle service equipment(EVSE) from a user's mobile device, comparing in the EVSE the user'sauthentication code to a whitelist having a plurality of authorized userauthentication codes, and enabling an electric vehicle (EV) chargingtransaction serviced by the EVSE in response to the comparing of theuser's authentication code to the whitelist so that a user'sauthentication code is authenticated to enable the EV chargingtransaction without concurrent access of the EVSE to an EVSE-relatedremote server. The method may also include receiving the whitelist inthe EVSE from an administrator mobile device so that the EVSE receivesthe whitelist without concurrent access to an EVSE-related remoteserver. The step of receiving the whitelist may also include receivingthe whitelist wirelessly from a mobile device, and the mobile device maybe a smartphone. In some embodiments, the step of receiving a whitelistincludes receiving the whitelist from a smartphone having a direct wiredconnection with the EVSE. The method may include providing power througha power cable in response to enabling the EV charging transaction. Insuch embodiments, the method may also include receiving a secondoccurrence of the user's authentication code in the EVSE from the user'smobile device and sending by the EVSE an electrical current indicationto the user's mobile device of a previous EV charging transaction inresponse to receiving the second occurrence of the user's authenticationcode. Or, the method may include receiving a second occurrence of auser's authentication code in the EVSE from a user's mobile device inresponse to connecting the EVSE to the mobile device and sending by theEVSE a current indication to the user's mobile device of a previous EVcharging transaction in response to receiving the second occurrence ofthe user's authentication code. Connecting the EVSE to the mobile devicewirelessly and automatically as the mobile device comes within wirelessrange of the EVSE may be part of the inventive method, and may includeproviding power through the power cable for up to 10 hours in responseto the enabling of the EV charging transaction.

A method is also disclosed for charging an electric vehicle (EV), thatincludes receiving a user's authentication code in a wireless interfacemodule from a user's mobile device, the Bluetooth interface module incommunication with an electric vehicle service equipment (EVSE),comparing in the wireless interface module the user's authenticationcode to a whitelist stored in the wireless interface module, thewhitelist having a plurality of authorized user authentication codes,and enabling an EV charging transaction serviced by the EVSE in responseto the comparison of the user's authentication code to the whitelist sothat a user's authentication code is authenticated to enable the EVcharging transaction without concurrent access to an EVSE-related remoteserver. The wireless interface module may be selected from the groupconsisting of a Bluetooth wireless module and Wi-Fi wireless module. Theuser's authentication code may be received in the wireless interfacemodule directly from the user's mobile device. The method may alsoinclude providing power through a power cable in response to enablingthe EV charging transaction and, in such embodiments, the method mayinclude receiving a second occurrence of the user's authentication codein the wireless interface module from the user's mobile device andsending by the wireless interface module an electrical currentindication to the user's mobile device of a previous EV chargingtransaction in response to receiving the second occurrence of the user'sauthentication code.

A method of using a mobile device to control charging of an electricvehicle (EV) may include entering a user authentication code into amobile device, establishing a wireless communication between an electricvehicle service equipment (EVSE) and the mobile device, sending theuser's authentication code from the mobile device to the EVSE, andreceiving in the mobile device a charge amount indication. The chargeamount indication may be a current indication and current charge time.Alternatively, the charge amount indication may be a total powerconsumed indication. The method may also include receiving in the mobiledevice an EVSE invitation to connect signal, accepting the EVSEinvitation to connect signal, requesting by the mobile device anelectric vehicle (EV) charge rate from a charge rate service provider,and receiving the EV charge rate in the mobile device. The step ofsending the user's authentication code from the mobile device to theEVSE may be made in response to selection of a charge rate.

An electrical vehicle service equipment (EVSE) apparatus may include awireless personal area network (PAN) module, an electric vehicle serviceequipment (EVSE) control module in electrical communication with the PANmodule, a pilot line in communication with the EVSE control module, andan EVSE power relay in communication with the EVSE control module. ThePAN module may be in communication with the EVSE control module throughthe pilot line. The EVSE control module may include the PAN module. Insome embodiments, the EVSE power switch may be seated in an EVSE controlbox and the EVSE control box may be detachably coupled to a powerreceptacle. In other embodiments, the PAN module may be a Bluetoothinterface module or a Wi-Fi interface module.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasisinstead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.Like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout thedifferent views.

FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art EVSE system that is in communication withan EVSE home office through both wired and cellular wirelesscommunication links;

FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of an EVSE system that has neither awired nor cellular wireless communication link to an EVSE office, butthat enables remote authentication and subsequent data transmission ofan EV charging transaction through a user's mobile device, with the EVSEsystem having a portable cord set;

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of EVSE system that enables remoteauthentication and subsequent data transmission of an EV chargingtransaction through a user's mobile device, with the EVSE system havinga non-portable cord set;

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of one embodiment of a method of administeringand using an EVSE with mobile devices;

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of one embodiment of a method of using a mobiledevice with EVSEs;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of an EVSE systemhaving a wireless interface module in short-range wireless communicationwith a user's smartphone and connected to the connector of the powercord;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of an EVSE controlmodule in communication with the connector of the power cord;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart describing one implementation of the methodillustrated in FIG. 4 for administering and using an EVSE with mobiledevices using the wireless interface material to store the whitelist forinternal comparison to a user's authentication code; and

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of an EVSE controlmodule.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A system is disclosed for charging an electric vehicle (EV) in a mannerthat enables local authorization of EV charging without the need toprovide the EVSE with installed wired or cellular wirelesscommunications for distant authorization of EV charging from an EVSEhome office. A user's authentication code may be provided to the EVSEdirectly from the user's mobile device, the EVSE may compare the user'sauthentication code to a whitelist previously loaded into the EVSE by alocal administrator mobile device, and the EV charging transaction maybe enabled in response to an affirmative comparison of the EVSE user'sauthentication code to the authorization codes stored in the EVSE'swhitelist. Upon completion of the EV charging transaction or at a laterdate, the user's mobile phone may again be used to upload thetransaction to the EVSE home office for processing.

FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of an EVSE 200 that enables remoteauthentication and subsequent data transmission of an EV chargingtransaction without the benefit of wired or cellular connections betweenthe EVSE and an EVSE home office, and with a cord set that is detachablefrom an EVSE pedestal and so made portable for users. A wirelessinterface module 202 is in communication with an EVSE control module 206seated in an EVSE control box 208 through pilot line segments (210 a,210 b, 210 c, 210 d) (alternatively referred to as a “pilot line”). TheEVSE control box 208 is itself detachable by a user from a wall outlet212 that is electrically connected to a utility line 214. As usedherein, a “wireless interface module” refers to a wireless interfacemodule adapted for exchanging information over short distances to amobile device, such as through using short-wavelength ultra-highfrequency (UHF) radio waves in the industrial, scientific and medical(ISM) radio bands (i.e., Bluetooth) or super high frequency (SHF) ISMradio bands (i.e., Wi-Fi) as designated by the InternationalTelecommunication Union (ITU), and specifically excludes cellular radiotower technologies intended for voice and data traffic and otherwide-area network (WAN) technologies. Such short-range technologies maygenerally form a personal area network (PAN) or a local area network(LAN) when used in combination with one or more mobile devices and/orEVSEs. In one embodiment, the wireless interface module 202 is aBluetooth (BT) interface module seated in a wireless interface modulecontrol box 216. Pilot line segment 210 c is disposed in a power cable218, with the power cable 218 fixedly coupled to the EVSE control box208 on a first end 220, and to a connector 222, such as a J1772compliant connector, on its other end 224. The mobile device 204 may berunning an EVSE mobile application 225, the mobile device 204 and EVSEmobile application collectively referred to as a “mobile device.” Themobile device may be in periodic communication with an EVSE home office227 through either a cellular communication path 152 that includes thecell tower 167, or through another means such as the EVSE user's or anEVSE owner's local area network (LAN). The mobile device may also be inperiodic communication with the wireless interface module 202 through ashort-range wireless connection 229 formed by the BT interface module.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the connector 222 is detachably seated in andmated to a receptor 226 of the wireless interface module control box 216so that a pilot line terminal (not shown) on the connector 222 and acomplementary pilot line terminal (not shown) on the receptor 226 aredetachably and electrically coupled together to electrically connect thepilot line segments (210 a, 210 b, 210 c, 210 d) to establish a completepilot line signal path between the wireless interface module 202 and theEVSE control module 206. A power relay (alternatively referred to as apower switch) 228 in the EVSE control box 208 may be electricallyconnected to the connector 222 through the power cable 218 on an EV sideof the power switch 228, with the other side of the power switch 228detachably and electrically coupled to the wall outlet 212 through aplug 230, such as a NEMA 515, 520, 615 or 620 plug.

For purposes of clarity, the EVSE 200 may be defined as including twoprimary components, namely a cord set 232 and an EVSE pedestal 236. Thecord set 232 may include the connector 222; the power cable 218 havingthe pilot line segments (210 b, 210 c); and the EVSE control box 208that contains the EVSE control module 206, the power switch/relay 228and a pilot line segment 210 d. The EVSE control box 208 may also have aplug 230 for plugging the cord set 232 into the wall outlet 212 thatprovides the utility power. In one embodiment, the EVSE pedestal 236 mayinclude the wireless interface module control box 216 encompassing thewireless interface module 202, a segment of the pilot line 210 a, andthe receptor 226 for receiving the connector 222 of the cord set 232. Asillustrated in FIG. 2, the cord set 232 may be portable and so can beremoved from the pedestal 236 to be used at any other compatible outlet.Also, the cord set 232 may be manufactured en masse for use as eitherseparate portable devices and/or attached to a pedestal 236 and used inthe EVSE 200, allowing the manufacturing cost of the cord set 232 to bereduced. Also, with the cord set 232 and the pedestal 236 being separate(as viewed by the user), the pedestal 236 may be installed prior to thedelivery and connection of the cord set 232. An example of a cord setsuch as that set forth as cord set 232 is the TurboCord EVSE which iscommercially available from AeroVironment, Inc. of Monrovia, Calif. USA(www.avinc.com). A cord set is described in International ApplicationNumber: PCT/US13/56871, PCT Publication No. WO 2014036013, which ishereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, and in InternationalApplication Number: PCT/US2014/029624, PCT Publication No. WO2014144990, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety,and in US Patent Application Publication No. 20140035527, which ishereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of an EVSE 300 that enables remoteauthentication of an EV charging transaction without the benefit ofwired or wireless connections made by the EVSE to an EVSE home office,and with a cord set that is not intended for portable use by a user.Communication between a mobile device (not shown) and the EVSE controlmodule 206 is enabled when the connector 222 of the EVSE power cable 218is mated to the complementary receptor 226 of an EVSE cover 302. Moreparticularly, when the connector 222 of the power cable 218 iselectrically coupled to the receptor 226 of the EVSE cover 302, a pilotline (segments 210 a, 210 b, 210 c, 210 d) enables electricalcommunication between a wireless interface module 304, such as a Wi-Fi(wireless local area network (WLAN)) interface module disposed in theEVSE cover 302 and the EVSE control module 206 seated in the EVSEcontrol box 208 that is itself disposed in the EVSE cover 302. The powerrelay 228 disposed in the EVSE control box 208 may be electricallyconnected between the connector 222 and the wall outlet 212 through theplug 230. Unlike the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the cord setconsisting of the power cable 218, power cable connector 222 and theEVSE control box 208 (enclosing the EVSE control module 206 and thepower relay 228) are not available to a standard user to detach from thewall outlet 212, as a portion 306 of the power cable 218 and the EVSEcontrol box 208 extend into an interior 308 of the EVSE cover 302 thatis normally locked or otherwise fixed to a pedestal 310, thus inhibitingaccess to the interior 308 of the EVSE cover 302.

FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of a method of administering and usingan EVSE with mobile devices. Subsequent to purchase or installation ofthe EVSE and an associated pedestal (if required) at a permanent uselocation, or periodically after installation, the EVSE may receive awhitelist from an administrator's mobile device (block 400), with thewhitelist including user authentication codes representing users thatare authorized to charge from the EVSE, such as the EVSE owner'semployees. Generation or transmittal of the whitelist may be made by anEVSE mobile application running on or through the administrator's mobiledevice, such as a smartphone. Such a transmission may be received by awireless interface module in the EVSE, such as a Bluetooth interfacemodule apart from an EVSE control module, or by an EVSE control modulehaving short-range wireless capability in the EVSE. After such setup andduring normal use, the EVSE may broadcast an invitation for mobiledevices to connect. A user that wants to initiate an EV chargingtransaction (i.e., desires to charge their EV) may push or otherwisesend an authentication code to be received in the EVSE's wirelessinterface module or wirelessly in an EVSE control module adapted toreceive such communications directly (block 402). The user'sauthentication code is compared to the authorization codes previouslyuploaded and existing in the whitelist in the EVSE (block 404). If theuser's authentication code is not on the whitelist (block 406), the EVSEmay prompt the user to again enter the authentication code or may sendan authorization failed message. Or, if the user's authentication codeis found on the whitelist (block 406), an EV charging transaction may beenabled (block 408) in response to the comparison. The user maydisconnect the connector from the receptor and plug it into the EV'scharge port to complete connection of the power cable between the EVSEand the EV (block 410). The EVSE may provide power to the EV such as maybe controlled through a pilot channel established between the EV andEVSE (block 412). In one embodiment, an EV charging authorizationresults in up to a 10-hour charge authorization for the user.

At the conclusion of charging, the user may disconnect the EVSE's powercable from the EV and return the associated connector to the receptor onthe EVSE (block 414). Preferably, the EVSE may again receive the user'sauthentication code (block 416) to re-establish communication to send acurrent indication and current charge time to the user's mobile device(block 418) that is an indication of the total charge delivered by theEVSE to the user's EV (alternatively referred to as a charge amountindication). In an alternative embodiment, only a current indication isprovided to the user's mobile device. In further embodiments, the chargeamount indication is a total power consumed indication. With the currentindication received, the mobile device may then send the currentindication (or total power consumed indication) to an EVSE home officeor to a payment system so that the user may be charged or otherwisedebited for the EV charge transaction (block 420). In one embodiment,the communication between the mobile device and the EVSE isreestablished (block 416) immediately upon conclusion of EV charging sothe EVSE home office or payment system may receive the currentindication through the user's mobile device immediately upon conclusionof the EV charging transaction. In another embodiment, communicationbetween the mobile device and the EVSE is reestablished at a subsequenttime, such as at initiation of a subsequent EV charging session ortransaction, and so the current indication is not immediately providedby the EVSE to the user's mobile device. In another embodiment, theuser's mobile device does not immediately provide the received chargingindication to the EVSE home office or payment system, but rather storesthe data for later transmission, such if the mobile device is notimmediately within range of cellular service.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart describing one embodiment of a method of using amobile device with EVSEs. A mobile device may receive and process anEVSE invitation to connect from a wireless interface module or EVSEcontrol module of the EVSE, and may subsequently connect to the EVSE(block 500) through a handshaking process. The mobile device may requestan EV charge rate from a service provider (block 502). The charge ratemay be received in the mobile device (block 504) concurrently with therequest if connected to cellular network, or be referenced internally ifsuch was provided during a previous download, and the rate approved orotherwise selected by the user. The user may communicate anauthentication code to the EVSE (block 506) through or as stored withintheir mobile device. In one embodiment, the mobile device is alsoprovided with approval for an EV charging transaction by the EVSE HomeOffice or Payment System as a further authentication/permissions stepprior to EV charging. In such an embodiment, the EV charging transactionapproval may be provided to the mobile device prior to communicating theauthentication code to the EVSE as a two-step authentication process.

The authentication code may be compared to the whitelist in the EVSE(block 508). If the authentication code is on the whitelist (block 510),an EV charging transaction may be enabled (i.e., an authorized EVcharging session) in response to the comparison (block 512). Otherwise(block 510) the EV charging transaction fails and the mobile device maypresent the user with further opportunities to provide anotherauthentication code. The user may connect the EVSE power cable to the EV(block 514) and the EVSE may provide power to the EV (block 516). Uponconclusion of the charging session, the user may return the connector onthe power cable to the receptor on the EVSE (block 518). The mobiledevice may communicate the authentication code to the EVSE (block 520)either concurrently with the end of the EV charging transaction or at alater time, such as at the beginning of a subsequent EV chargingtransaction, and a current indication may be received in the user'smobile device (block 522). The mobile device may send the currentindication on to the EVSE home office or to another payment systemthrough its connected cellular network (block 524) or through othermeans such as a local wide area network (WAN), or at a later time ifsuch a cellular or long-range network isn't currently available to themobile device.

As may be appreciated from the description, above, the EVSE system 200may operate without having any connection back to the home office 227 atthe time an EV charging transaction is initiated. In such embodiments,the application 225 is provided with an authorization from the EVSEowner or from the home office 227 at a time prior (e.g. days, weeks,months prior) to the initiation of the charge session, and then with themobile device 204 in short-range communication with the EVSE controlmodule 206 (such as through a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connection, the EVSEmobile application 225 may provide the charging session authorizationdirectly. In this manner, charging can occur even if a cellularconnection cannot be made by the mobile device 204 (e.g., the EVSE 200is in a location without cellular service—a dead spot). In suchsituations, the EVSE mobile application 225 will also function to recordinformation about the changing session to later relay to the EVSE homeoffice 227 or to an acquiring bank that processes credit or debit cardpayments on behalf of the EVSE owner or the EVSE home office, when aconnection can be reestablished. Such stored and relayed information mayinclude: duration of the charging session, time of charging, powerprovided to the EV, rate for charging at the EVSE 200, and the like. Atperiodic times the EVSE mobile application 225 will seek to contact theEVSE home office 227 to update the user's charging authorization and/orto transfer stored information from prior charging sessions.

In embodiments, the present invention has the EVSE control module 206 incommunication with the wireless interface module 202 via the pilot line(210 a, 210 b, 210 c, 210 d), such that information such as chargingauthorization, initiation of charging, terminating charging, duration ofsession, power supplied, charging rates, and the like can be transferredto and from the wireless and EVSE control modules (202, 206) while theconnector 222 is electrically coupled to the receptor 226. In someembodiments the wireless and EVSE control modules (202, 206) are notseparate modules, but have both functions implemented in the same moduleand are directly connected to the EVSE's power switch/relay 228. Inother embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2, the wireless and EVSE controlmodules (202, 206) are separate and communicate via the pilot line (210a, 210 b, 210 c, 210 d). In such embodiments, when the EVSE 200 is notconnected to the EV, the power cord connector 222 can be plugged into areceptor 226 that includes a wired connection to the wireless interfacemodule 202, such that the pilot line (210 a, 210 b, 210 c, 210 d)provides communication between the wireless interface module 202 and theEVSE control module 206 so the EVSE box 208 can be sealed without theneed for an external connection port for the transfer of data, improvingits weatherproofing and reducing its cost of manufacture.

In other embodiments, the EVSE control system, such as the wireless andEVSE control modules (202, 206), do not need to have a real time clockin order to generate a current indication, as such a clock can besimulated by using the communication with the user's smart phone or maybe generated using a timer function without real-time clock data. In analternative embodiment, generation of data logs enable recalculation ofthe EVSE's clock during communication with the smart phone. The lack ofa real time clock can further reduce the cost to manufacture the EVSE,and are not necessary to produce EV transaction data such as total timecharged.

In one example operation of the EVSE system 200, a user parks their EVnear the available EVSE 200, and then opens (e.g., runs), the EVSEmobile application 225 on their cellular phone 204. The EVSE mobileapplication 225 and cellular phone look for EVSEs in the range of thelocal/short range radio (i.e., within the Bluetooth or WiFi receptioncapability of the cellular phone) and presents these to the user tochoose from. Each EVSE has a physical identifier that corresponds to anidentifier transmitted via wireless interface module 202 for visualcomparison by the user, such as a serial number on a front face of theEVSE or an EVSE name or logo. In so doing, the cellular phone 204 mayuse the signal strength of the wireless interface module 202 to aid infinding the EVSE that the user wants to use, namely the closer the EVSEis to the phone 204, the greater the radio signal strength indicated inthe EVSE mobile application 225 user interface.

In other embodiments, the application 225 may have received priorauthorization for the use of the EVSE 200 or may contact the home office227 via the cellular connection 152 to obtain authorization. Then, theEVSE mobile application 225 communicates, via the local wirelessconnection 229, to the wireless control model 202 to provide the chargeauthorization. The wireless control system 202 in turn communicates viathe pilot line (210 a, 210 b, 210 c, 210 d) to the EVSE control module206 to provide the charge authorization. Then upon connection of theconnector 222 to an EV (and a pilot signal is properly communicatedbetween the EV and the EVSE 200), the EVSE control module 206 instructsthe power relay 228 to provide electric power from the utility line 214to the EVSE power cable 218 and the connector 222. The EVSE controlmodule 206 may also direct the switch to terminate supplying power whenthe charging transaction is over, such as when the authorized durationof the charge reaches the value provide by the home office 227 or EVSEowner via the EVSE mobile application 225 to the wireless interfacemodule 202.

In addition to providing charging authorization and charging relateddata between the home office 227 and the EVSE 200, via the EVSE mobileapplication 225 on the phone 204, additional information can be sentthat is not seen by the user. This additional information may includesoftware updates, settings, diagnostics, information to show on adisplay on the EVSE 200, such as pricing, advertising, user feedback,etc. This information can be sent not just to the EVSE 200 that the useris using or intends to use, but also to all EVSEs within range of thewireless connection from the phone 204.

In this embodiment, to obtain charging authorization the EVSE system 200utilizes the user's cellular phone 204 to communicate back to the EVSEhome or back office 227, via a wireless connection through a cellularsystem 152 (in other embodiments the connection between the phone 204and the EVSE home office 227 can be made by any of a variety of knownmeans, including via Wi-Fi or a wired connection such as a phone landline). In embodiments the phone 204 (alternatively referred to as asmartphone) is operable to hold the user's financial information (e.g.,credit card number) and funds for charging sessions, which can be basedon tokens, thus eliminating the need to pass financial and credit cardinformation to the charger and/or to the home or back office.

The cellular phone 204 can achieve this authorization by employing anEVSE mobile application 225 that is loaded and operating on the phone204. The phone 204 in turn communicates with the wireless interfacemodule 202 via a wireless connection 229 through the wireless controllermodule 202 to provide the EVSE control module 206 with authorization forthe charging session (a “EV charging transaction”). Since the user isexpected to be located relatively close to the EVSE system 200, thewireless connection 229 can be any of known local, or short range,wireless communication means including Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. The use ofsuch a short range communication 229 allows the cost to manufacture theEVSE system 200 to be reduced compared to using a cellular connection165 (see FIG. 1). The installation cost of the EVSE 200 may be reducedas a wired or land-line cabling 170 is likewise not required. Further,the continuing operation costs of the EVSE system 200 is reduced asneither a cellular service or wired (landline) subscription is requiredto contact the home office 227 to obtain charging authorization.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of an EVSE system with an expanded view of awireless interface module connected to the cord set and EVSE controlbox. The wireless interface module 600 may be connected to a wall outlet602 for power, and may be in short-range wireless communication with auser's smartphone 604. The user's smartphone 604 may be in periodiccommunication 606 with a home or back office via the Internet 608. Insuch an embodiment, the wireless interface module 600 includes aBluetooth module 610 in electrical communication with a pilot terminal612 of a connector 614, preferably a J1772 compliant connector, of apower cable 616. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the wireless interface module600 is in electrical communication with an EVSE control box 208 thatcontains an EVSE control module (not shown).

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the invention system diagram for an EVSEcontrol system, with a cord set 232 and an EVSE control module 700connected to the wall outlet 602 and in wireless communication with theuser's smartphone 604.

FIG. 8 illustrates one implementation of the method illustrated in FIG.4 for administering and using an EVSE with mobile devices. In thisimplementation, the whitelist is stored in the wireless interface moduleresiding in the EVSE pedestal, and the whitelist comparison andsubsequent EV charging transaction authorization are also implemented inthe wireless interface module for subsequent communication to the EVSEcontrol module rather than being implemented in the EVSE control moduleitself. More particularly, subsequent to purchase or installation of theEVSE pedestal at a permanent use location, or periodically afterinstallation, the wireless interface module in the pedestal may receiveand store a whitelist from an administrator's mobile device (block 800),with the whitelist including user authentication codes representingusers that are authorized to charge from the EVSE, such as the EVSEowner's employees. After such setup and during normal use, the wirelessinterface module may broadcast an invitation for mobile devices toconnect. In such an embodiment, the invitation to connect may be aninvitation to connect the user's cord set to the EVSE pedestal. Or, thecord set may be previously attached to the pedestal, such as would bethe case if the cord set was not portable. A user that wants to initiatean EV charging transaction (i.e., desires to charge their EV) may sendan authentication code using, for example, their EVSE mobile applicationrunning in their wireless device, to be received in the EVSE's wirelessinterface module (block 802) in the EVSE pedestal. The user'sauthentication code may be compared to the authorization codespreviously uploaded and existing in the whitelist in the wirelessinterface module (block 804). If the user's authentication code is noton the whitelist (block 806), the wireless interface module may promptthe user (through the EVSE mobile application) to again enter theauthentication code or may send an authorization failed message to theuser. Or, if the authentication code is found on the whitelist (block806), the wireless interface module may send an authorization to startan EV charge transaction sign (block 808) to the EVSE control module inresponse to the comparison. The user may then remove the connector fromthe receptor and electrically couple the connector to their EV so thepower cable is connected between the EV and the EVSE (block 810), andthe EVSE may provide power to the EV by standard means such as may becontrolled through a pilot channel established between the EV and EVSE(block 812). At the conclusion of charging, the user may disconnect theconnector on the EVSE's power cable from the EV and return the connectorto the receptor of the EVSE (block 814). Preferably, the wirelessinterface module may again receive the user's authentication code (block816) to re-establish communication between the mobile device and thewireless interface module of the EVSE for the wireless interface moduleto send a current indication to the user's mobile device (block 818)that is an indication of the total charge delivered by the EVSE to theuser's EV. With the current indication received, the mobile device maythen send the current indication to an EVSE home office or to a paymentsystem so that the user may be charged or otherwise debited for the EVcharge transaction (block 820). In one embodiment, the communicationbetween the mobile device and the wireless interface module isreestablished (block 816) immediately upon conclusion of EV charging sothe EVSE home office or payment system may receive the currentindication through the user's mobile device immediately upon conclusionof the EV charging transaction. However, in another embodiment,communication between the mobile device and the wireless interfacemodule of the EVSE is reestablished at a subsequent time, such as atinitiation of a subsequent EV charging session or transaction, and sothe current indication is not immediately provided by the EVSE to theuser's mobile device. In other embodiment, the user's mobile device doesnot immediately provide the received charging indication to the EVSEhome office or payment system, but rather stores the data for latertransmission, such if the mobile device is not immediately within rangeof cellular service.

FIG. 9 illustrates one embodiment of the EVSE control module andincluded power relays that use AC utility power to charge the EV. Thesystem is operable to plug into an AC source that may be 120 VAC-60 Hz,250 VAC-60 Hz (split phase) or 230 VAC 50 Hz (80 VAC to 264 VAC) via astandard NEMA or CEE7/7 plug. The AC power is routed to a GFI Monitor902 that is a GFI/RCD (Ground Fault Interrupter/Residual Current Devicecurrent sensor) through power relays 904 for presentation to an EV powercable 906. The power relays 904 are normally open (N. O.) whende-energized, so logic power must be present in order to initiate andmaintain the relay-closed condition, such as in response to acommunication from a wireless control module or in response a comparisonof an authentication code to a whitelist in the EVSE control modulememory. The mechanical relays open/close operation is driven by therelay control driver and fault latch 907. The GFI monitor 902 relaycontrol driver and fault latch controller 907 collectively provide arobust hardware safety system. A controller 908 receives line voltagesignals from an AC voltage monitor 910 through an analog multiplexor912, with the AC voltage monitor 910 monitoring the voltage on Line 1and Line 2 and across the relays 904 for communication to the controller908. The controller 908 includes a microprocessor and control monitoringelectronics, with logic power being supplied by a POWER SUPPLY 909 thatmay be a flyback transformer based power supply to allow for use of theEVSE system 900 in different power environments. The prime function ofthe controller 908 is to use the inputs from the vehicle connector andutility to allow or disallow the relays to open and close, and in oneembodiment, to compare a user's authentication code to a whiteliststored in internal memory to enable an EV charging transaction. Inanother embodiment, the controller 908 may receive an EV chargingtransaction in response to a communication from a wireless interfacemodule, with the wireless interface module performing the comparisonbetween a user's authentication code and a whitelist stored the internalmemory of the wireless interface module. The controller 908 obtains itsoperating power from the utility at the input of the EVSE system 900.

A connector 914 such as an SAE-J1772 or IEC-62196 Type II, Mode 2compliant connector is in communication with the EV power cable 906 tofeed the AC power to an EV (not shown) that may be coupled to the chargecoupler. The EV (now shown) may contain an on-board charger that thenconverts the AC power to DC power to charge the vehicle batteries. Forexample, in preparation to operate the EVSE system 900, the connector914 is attached by the user to the vehicle receptacle for chargingsessions. The vehicle is the primary system component perSAE-J1772/IEC62196 that communicates charging status and completion tothe user, however the controller 908 may be designed to provide aprimary pilot signal through the pilot driver and monitor 915, with thepilot signal established between the EVSE and the vehicle per SAE-J1772prior to closing the relays 904. The pilot signal is passed through thepower cable 906 to the vehicle, and may have a peak amplitude of +/−12 Vand a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation). Per SAE-J1772, the duty cycle of thepilot PWM signal is used by the EVSE system 900 to communicate themaximum power amperage limit that the EVSE system 900 may supply to thevehicle. The pilot signal voltage amplitude and modulationcharacteristics are used to indicate a proper connection, chargingrequirements and default status between the vehicle and the EVSE system900.

We claim:
 1. A method of charging an electric vehicle (EV), comprising:receiving a user's authentication code in a wireless interface modulefrom a user's mobile device, the wireless interface module incommunication with an electric vehicle service equipment (EVSE);comparing in the wireless interface module the user's authenticationcode to a whitelist stored in the wireless interface module, thewhitelist having a plurality of authorized user authentication codes;enabling an EV charging transaction serviced by the EVSE in response tothe comparing of the user's authentication code to the whitelist;wherein the user's authentication code is authenticated to enable the EVcharging transaction without concurrent access to an EVSE-related remoteserver; providing power through a power cable in response to enablingthe EV charging transaction; receiving a second occurrence of the user'sauthentication code in the wireless interface module from the user'smobile device; and sending by the wireless interface module anelectrical current indication to the user's mobile device of a previousEV charging transaction in response to receiving the second occurrenceof the user's authentication code.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein thewireless interface module is selected from the group consisting of aBluetooth wireless module and a Wi-Fi wireless module.
 3. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the user's authentication code is received in thewireless interface module directly from the user's mobile device.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: entering the user'sauthentication code into the user's-a mobile device; establishing awireless communication between the EVSE and the user's mobile device;sending the user's authentication code from the user's mobile device tothe EVSE; and receiving in the user's mobile device a charge amountindication.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the charge amountindication is a current indication and current charge time.
 6. Themethod of claim 4, wherein the charge amount indication is a total powerconsumed indication.
 7. The method of claim 4, further comprising:receiving in the user's mobile device an EVSE invitation to connectsignal; accepting the EVSE invitation to connect signal; requesting bythe user's mobile device an EV charge rate from a charge rate serviceprovider; and receiving the EV charge rate in the user's mobile device.8. The method of claim 4, wherein sending the user's authentication codefrom the user's mobile device to the EVSE is made in response toselection of a charge rate.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein thewireless interface module is in communication with the EVSE via awireless personal area network (PAN) module of the EVSE, wherein an EVSEcontrol module is in electrical communication with the PAN module. 10.The method of claim 9, wherein the PAN module is in communication withthe EVSE control module through a pilot line in communication with theEVSE control module.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the EVSE controlmodule comprises the PAN module.
 12. The method of claim 9, wherein anEVSE power relay is seated in an EVSE control box and the EVSE controlbox is detachably coupled to a power receptacle.
 13. The method of claim9, wherein the PAN module is a Bluetooth interface module.
 14. Themethod of claim 9, wherein the PAN module is a Wi-Fi interface module.